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Melissa Cohen 9/15/14

Professor Russo Paper 1



BROOKLYN BRIDGE
[BUILDING OF, OPENING OF, DESIGN OF, EMILY ROEBLINGS ROLE]

The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the most significant bridges in New York. Since it
was built after the civil war, it symbolizes modern America and the start of the industrial
revolution. In the late 1800s when this bridge was being constructed, America was
changing in many ways. Slavery was now abolished, and people started to move to cities,
and out of the farmlands. The most common form of transportation from Brooklyn to
Manhattan was the ferry, but once the Brooklyn Bridge was created, transportation
changed drastically for the better.
John Augustus Roebling was the creator of the Brooklyn Bridge, and was born in
the midst of a revolution in Germany in 1806. He enrolled in the Royal Polytechnic
Institute of Berlin and began his movement of intellectual freedom, which later on
helped him immigrate to America. Roebling felt Germany was still set in their old ways,
and nothing new could be accomplished. In 1837, Roebling became a naturalized citizen
of the U.S, and the transportation revolution started to become more advanced. The rope
business started to emerge, and Roeblings manufactory moved from Pennsylvania to
Trenton. His career as a bridge engineer began in 1845 after his establishment of the
rope business. His son Washington graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic institute and
joined his father in the business. The two worked on many projects previous to the
Brooklyn Bridge, and had experience as engineers (Trachtenberg 1979)
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It wasnt until a cold winter day in 1852, when Roebling was on the ferry in the
East River and discovered that a Bridge should be built from Manhattan to Brooklyn. In
1856, Roebling started to draw his plans for the Bridge, and decided to start building
near the city halls of Manhattan and Brooklyn. During the civil war, people werent
interested in the grand plans of the Bridge. It wasnt until the war ended where a bridge
company was made, and Roebling was chosen to be chief engineer in 1867. His master
plan was to make this bridge a world historical object (Trachtenberg, 68).
Mathematical symbols and drawings were essential in explaining the building of
the bridge. If this was going to be built, Roebling had to promote the idea to
businessmen and politicians in his own words. He prepared a plan to report to the New
York Bridge Company that the system of the bridge would be 1,600 feet long, weigh
5,000 tons, and emphasized the role of the main cables and their strength. He argued
that the bridge would beautify this part of the city with city hall park right there. The
tower design was more for symbolism than functional reason, and the decision of the
Gothic arch was made. The bridge represented the transportation of the chaos of
millions of people that traveled to and from Manhattan and Brooklyn. John Roebling
wasnt able to see the results of his bridge, as he died of infection due to a tragic accident
1869 (Trachtenberg, 1979).
John A. Roebling planned to build a bridge where the roadway would be
suspended from four huge cables that were supported by two towers, which were each
276.5 feet tall. As the cables passed over the towers, two stone anchorages would secure
their ends. One anchorage on the Manhattan side, and one on the Brooklyn side, each
the size of a city block. These arches were made of steel instead of iron. Roebling wanted
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this bridge to be a pleasant ride to pass through which is why the arches were so unique
and detailed (Petrash, 2002).
As Washington took over as chief engineer, and worked with the other men in the
caissons below in the river, it was discovered that Washington had caisson disease. This
disease consisted of air pressure increasing as the caisson went further into the water,
creating nitrogen bubbles to form in their blood. This became known as caisson disease
or the bends. Most workers were very ill from this and experienced cramps, dizziness,
paralysis or death. He was then crippled for life, and could no longer work beside his
men. His nervous and muscular systems were permanently damaged, but his mind was
still in tact (Petrash, 2002).
Washingtons wife, Emily Warren Roebling was now in charge of building the
Brooklyn Bridge. With her father in law passing, and her husband now crippled, she was
the next person in line to take control. Washington was still the chief despite his
disability, in which he wrote out instructions, and diagrams for the completion of the
bridge for Emily to deliver to the engineers. Washington, and Emily had then moved to
Brooklyn Heights where Washington had a perfect view of the Bridge from his house. As
time went on, Washington became weak, and his eyesight was going. Emily was very
knowledgeable with engineering and mathematics, and took over many of the
responsibilities. During this time period, it was hard to believe that a woman was doing
this type of work since being a wife, and mother came first. If the public knew that Emily
had taken over as chief, the bridge might not have been completed. It also would have
been known that Washington not only lost his physical capabilities, but his mind as well.
Emily constantly defended her husband, and in 1882 she became the first woman to
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speak before the American Society of Civil Engineers explaining why Washington should
not be replaced. As years went on more people and workers respected her, and what
she did for the project. By 1883, Emily was the first person to cross the bridge with a
rooster caged on her lap in a carriage. Workmen, and bystanders cheered for her, as they
would have for her father in law and husband (Petrash 2002).
On May 24, 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge was complete, and now open to the public.
Residents of Brooklyn, and Manhattan witnessed the ceremony. President Chester A
Arthur, and Governor Grover Cleveland waited on the Manhattan side, as Emily was the
first to maker her way with son John, and rooster. For many years after the completion,
the bridge was considered to be one of the tallest structures in the western hemisphere.
The connection of Brooklyn and Manhattan changed New York City forever (Brooklyn
Bridge, 2010).
The Brooklyn Bridge was one of the most dangerous projects to ever be built.
From going down into the river, to going hundreds of feet above ground for the cables,
many workers were severely injured or died. After walking the bridge for the first time
last week, I appreciate it that much more. Being able to experience the bridge, and know
that it is still standing after all this time is fascinating. In my own opinion, I believe it is
one of the most beautiful bridges in all of New York as well as the United States.





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References

Brooklyn Bridge. History.com, A&E Television Networks, 1 Jan. 2010. Web

Petrash, Antonia. More than Petticoats. Guilford, CT: TwoDot, 2002. Print.

Trachtenberg, Alan. An American Dream, A Master Plan, History and Secret History
Opening Ceremonies. Brooklyn Bridge Fact and Symbol. The University of
Chicago Press, Chicago, 1979. Print.